Sunset Overdrive’s vibrant world is partially inspired by Dreamcast classic Jet Grind Radio

Xbox One exclusive title, Sunset Overdrive, was one of the most impressive and different looking games shown off at E3 this year.

During a round-table interview at E3, Sunset Overdrive’s game director, Drew Murray, as well at the title’s creative director, Marcus Smith, discussed their inspiration for the title’s energy drink “awesomepocalypse” formula. Dreamcast classic Jet Grind Radio apparently played a role in the Sunset Overdrive’s inception.

“From a visual perspective a little bit. This game is very much a mash-up of everything we like in general. Especially the designer that really championed our traversal system — he was definitely a Jet Grind Radio fan. We were looking at Tony Hawk and Jet Grind Radio in particular because you’re using the environment to do everything you do,” said Smith.

While much of the title’s inspiration came from Jet Grind Radio’s attitude, bright colours and wacky nature, it also stemmed from other sources.

“Visually we were inspired a lot early on by Jaime Hewlett, the artist who does work for The Gorillaz. Our first characters 90 per cent looked like one of his characters but it evolved and we came up with what we think is a visual identity that’s stylized. That was sort of our starting point though,” said Murray.

Insomniac Games is traditionally a Sony-exclusive developer and Sunset Overdrive is the first title they’re bringing to an Xbox console. Murray explained this decision stems from the fact that Insomniac wants to retain ownership of the franchise. This is something Microsoft was very willing to offer the developer to bring Sunset Overdrive to their console.

“For us it’s about us really wanting to own our own IP. We have a history of giving IPs to publishers. Part of the deal with Xbox is that we own the IP and they’ve been super, super supportive. Obviously we still work with Sony. As an independent developer you have to diversify. We’re available, we’re dating,” said Murray.

Sunset Overdrive’s world is bright and vibrant. Handout/Microsoft

Smith also explained his studio wanted to try something completely different from projects they’ve worked on before like the Ratchet and Clank and Resistance series. Sunset Overdrive’s bright colour pallet helped keep his development team interested in creating a new intellectual property (IP).

“The prospect of starting a whole new franchise in that dark, sort of depressing colour pallet we’ve all grown accustomed to at this point – we would have killed ourselves, basically. We spent a lot of time watching all of the post-apocalyptic movies and some scenes stood out. That one with Charleton Heston at the beginning of The Omega Man where he’s driving through the streets of LA in his convertible, or when Will Smith in I Am Legend is hitting golf balls off of an aircraft carrier — I want to do those things. I want to do that and if I climbed up there [in the real world], I’d be arrested,” said Smith.

“We started thinking about the end times in a different way. The laws go away so maybe you’re allowed to do the things you wouldn’t normally do.”

The OD’d come in various forms. Handout/Microsoft

Insomniac had a massive playable booth set up in the middle of Microsoft’s section of the show floor and Sunset Overdrive’s wacky, cooperative multiplayer mode was on display. While I only went hands-on with the title for a few minutes, the experience felt similar to what Smith described during our interview.

The Jet Grind Radio and Tony Hawk influence on the title was very apparent as I grinded and wall jumped repeatedly around the level, firing at the OD’d, humans who have overdosed on an energy drink called Delirium XT and become monsters. Amusingly, Microsoft was also giving out a real-world version of the fictional energy drink at E3. Thankfully it didn’t turn anyone into monsters.

In the E3 show floor demo, players were tasked with protecting a collection of “Overcharge Vats” from the OD’d. While the mode’s focus has an emphasis on working together to achieve a common goal, individual player kills and points are still tracked as well.

Sunset Overdrive’s E3 2014 booth. Patrick O’Rourke/Postmedia

While the multiplayer mode is fun, it’s also chaotic and difficult to tell exactly what is going on, especially in my first few minutes with the game. Of course the E3 demo only lasted about 15 minutes, so it’s difficult to judge a game with so little hands-on time. Regardless, Sunset Overdrive’s multiplayer certainly shows promise.

Unlike many games shown off at E3, Sunset Overdrive is also set for a Oct. 28, 2014 release date. At least we won’t have to wait until 2015 to enjoy its madness.